Nasty mountains, extreme athletes, street artists, inspiring speakers, and awesome bands…where can you get all that in one epic weekend? The GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado! This is the country’s premier festival of modern mountain culture. This June, upwards of 4,000 athletes took over Vail to compete across 11 different disciplines—rock climbing, biking, running, fishing, SUP, disc golf, and slackline, plus wacky events like gladiator-style kayaking and dueling water dogs. To amp it up, the streets were lined with food trucks, gear outfitters, live music, and art demos for an epic four-day event with 95,000 mountain-lovers.
We had the honor of speaking on the CoLab creator stage and getting to know the awesome people behind the Vail Valley Foundation, who have been putting this event on for the last 21 years. We love that the underlying goal of this action-packed festival is not just about enjoying the mountains, but about recreating responsibly and coming together to preserve these beautiful peaks, valleys, rivers, and forests we all love.
After spending a full four days rocking this event and visiting Vail multiple times, we’re stoked to share our guide to the GoPro Mountain Games. Have a read and start planning your trip for June 6-9, 2024!
Vail, The Green Home of The Mountain Games
Everyone knows Vail. It’s one of the world’s premier ski destinations, but few people know how incredible this place is yearround. Vail is the first region in the United States certified by a Global Sustainable Tourism Council accredited certifying body and officially the first sustainable mountain resort destination in the world. They earned that status in 2017, but ever since the town’s founding in 1960s, they enacted protection of open spaces and added a 1% real estate tax to fund continuous improvement of their outdoor recreation areas. And Vail Resort, the valley’s crowing outdoor attraction, is on track to have a net zero carbon footprint by 2030! Sustainability and a love for the environment are truly built into the Vail DNA. Everyone from the employees at the Vail Valley Foundation (VVF) to the average resident we met, could not have been more passionate about preserving their mountain home.
The Games Take Over Town!
With Vail Village having a river running through it, pedestrian-only streets, and a major ski resort in town, it has everything needed to host the GoPro Mountain Games (GPMG). Building upon their already adorable Alps-inspired village, they created five neighborhoods: The Hangout at Golden Peak (food trucks, music, and kids zone), Mountain Plaza (rock climbing central), Dog Town (where all the canine athletic events go down), Zen Zone (yoga and chill space), and Mountain House Gear Town (vendors galore + The CoLab + Slackline). Vail has so many cool gear shops, restaurants, and boutiques, and the Mountain Games bring even more awesome brands—all with a common love and respect for the outdoors. Yeti, Outside Magazine, Go RVing, Adidas Terrex, Polaris, Nature Valley, Leave No Trace, and 100+ awesome brands and organizations were there to represent with demos, samples, and prizes. (For example, GoPro gave away a camera every day of the event!) Many of these brands are already eco-conscious, but they had to comply with the event’s no single-use plastic mandate and some went above and beyond like Tin Cup Mountain Whiskey, which donated $1 for every drink sold to Vail Valley’s Restore the Gore Creek conservation project. Each section of town was so full of energy and awesome opportunities to connect with all things outdoors!
Pro Competitions
The Mountain Games bring some of the world’s best outdoor athletes, including Olympic medalists, world champions, and rising stars. And while there are plenty of just-for-fun events, GPMG also holds a variety of qualifiers like the North American Cup Series, which is the rock climbing pipeline for the World Cup and Olympics, and the Dual Slalom Qualifiers for the country’s top mountain bikers. While there are thousands of running and biking competitions around the world, there aren’t too many places that spotlight alternative sports like disc golf, SUP, and slackline. For that reason, best-in-class athletes come from Japan, Poland, Mexico, and a dozen other countries, because this competition is the crème de la crème for their sports. We didn’t know slackline (that tightrope people set up between two trees at the park) could be done at such a high level. Watch the video below for this acrobatics-meets-break-dancing spectacular.
Kid- & Family-Friendly Events
Unlike most sporting events, everyone can enter, from kids to dogs! Ages 1-84 participated this year, and entire families came out in force. Standing at the massive inflatable water slide at the end of the mud run, we were so entertained and amazed at the range of people participating and that everyone had the absolute biggest smile on their faces. However, kids aren’t just relegated to silly events. This year, nearly every competition at the GoPro Mountain Games had a 13 to 18-year-old “grom” division to give young athletes the chance to compete against the best of their peers and grow their community. The future of any sport is with the kids, so Mountain Games was stoked to report that this year, 35% of their competitors were under 19. We watched a lot of youth competitions and can say this was no Gymboree, some of these teens seemed pro already!
Dog Town Fun
Who’s got a water-obsessed dog? How about a fetching fiend? They should enter or at least attend the most pet-friendly event we’ve ever witnessed. Pet hydration stations, milk bone bars, and doggy swag stands were all over the place; plus, there was an entire village (aka Dog Town) dedicated to their competitions and all things canine. Dueling Dogs was my favorite event, where two pups stand at the edge of a lap pool, leap as far as they can, and see who can swim to the stick and return it the fastest. Just as entertaining as watching the super jumpers, was seeing the adorably clueless dogs jump in, go the wrong direction, or just start cuddling with their owner. Another cool thing in Dog Town was that Eagle County Animal Services brought in cute pups in need of a good home, and a record 18 were adopted.
The CoLab Creator Stage
For the first time in the Mountain Games’ 21-year history, they added the “CoLab Stage,” bringing together top creators across the arts, sports, and travel worlds to share their stories, tips, and creative vibes. For example, while blind mountaineer Rafa Jaime and his guide shared their story of summitting Everest, internet-famous Ethereal in Ewas improvising on the handpan, and pop artist Timmy Ham was painting, all to the flow of their talk. With sustainability being a big part of the games, we were invited to do a fireside chat with US Ski Hall of Famer Chris Davenport, giving our best sustainable travel tips, as told through stories from our 11 years on the road. We were honored to be a part of this inspiring CoLab-oration and truly learned so much from the other presenters…from Laura Zera’s wilderness survival workshop to backcountry culinary skills with Adventure Chef Adam Glick. Props to the Vail Valley Foundation and Wrenegade Media for bringing together such inspiring people and creating a space to let the juices flow.
Mountains of Music
Wherever you are in Vail Village, you are never far from live music. Stages were set up in each section, and 13 different musicians rocked out with free shows all day. I’m officially obsessed with Emilise (love her soulful voice) and Trevor Green, a 1-man, 3-didgeridoo band. By night, the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater took over, with major acts playing Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. “The Amp” is one of the country’s premier outdoor music venues, yet it’s intimate enough with just 2,565 seats and a lawn that invites picnic blankets, dancing, and sunset views over the mountains. Our brother “Doc” was majorly jealous that we got to see his favorite band Motet, and we loved that they opened for Brothers of a Feather (featuring the lead singer of the Black Crowes. “She Talks to Angels” is one of my favorite songs!). We had never heard of the band Local Natives, but man, did they rock. Super high energy and interactive, they had everyone singing along. Alll in all, the mountain Games rolled out 22 bands, 30 live sets, across 3 stages (plus, the Amp!)…it was musical merriment!
Protect Our Playground
With tens of thousands of people descending on a small town and 100s of booths setting up on the streets, it’s not easy to create an eco-conscious event…but Vail Valley Foundation wouldn’t have it any other way. VVF goes above and beyond to make this one of the lowest carbon footprint festivals, from their free e-bus system, water refilling stations, extensive recycling and composting programs, and an entire Green Team (335 volunteers strong!) to help make sure the sustainability efforts are running like a fine-tuned machine. Waste management is the hardest part of a big event, but VVF tackles it head-on with a volunteer at virtually every trashcan to guide people on what to put where (landfill, compost, or recycling). After hours, volunteers were further sifting at the city dump. We visited “The Boneyard” where it all goes down, and it was humbling to see them sort the mountains of trash into orderly bins—with a smile on their faces! With the Green Team’s efforts, close to 90% of the waste was diverted from landfills!
VVF treats this event as a chance to educate and inspire mountain lovers to “Protect our Playground.” This year The Town of Vail, Eagle River Watershed Council, and Restore The Gore added a day of service to further protect The Gore, the creek that’s a vital component to the games and beauty of the area. Dozens of volunteers came out to plant native trees, shrubbery, and plant life that play a crucial role in regrowth to conserve the habitat of the river ecosystem.
How You Can Do Your Part
- Bring a Reusable Water Bottle: The drinking water from Vail taps is some of the best in the world and refilling stations are everywhere (many with complimentary electrolyte drink mixes)
- Eco-Friendly Transit: Consider alternate modes of transportation. Bike, walk, carpool, or use public transit…Vail has free electric buses throughout town!
- Stay on the Trail: Don’t trample riparian vegetation, especially around the fragile ecosystem of Gore Creek.
- Pick Up After Your Pet: Use compostable bags and be sure to throw them in a trashcan—not the trailside.
- Help the Green Team: Work with the on-site volunteers at the waste diversion stations and help them do their job by reading the signage and putting waste in their designated receptacles.
- Join The Day of Service: If you stay and enjoy the week in the Rocky Mountains (see our blog, Colorado Road Trip for tips), give back at the Mountain Games Day of Service, taking place the following weekend. This will usually be a trail cleanup or restoration project like this year’s Restore the Gore.
Must-See Mountain Games Events
With 30 competitions, 19 musical acts, and dozens of talks happening across multiple venues at the same time, it can be tricky to see and do it all! Our advice is to spend at least an hour at each of the five main areas to get the vibe, and take your time wandering between them—there are so many cool vendors and pop-up activations! Scan the Mountain Games schedule, mark down the events that pique your interest, and add these HoneyTrek picks for a well-rounded weekend at this celebration of mountain sports, art, and music.
- 8-Ball Kayak Sprint: This is where hearty paddlers race as fast as they can through a gauntlet of not just rapids, but an army of rough and tumble kayakers trying to ram into them. It’s too funny.
- See a Concert at the Amp: While there is a ton of awesome free music at the Mountain Games, spring for tickets to the Amp. GPMG brings in top acts and this is a world-class venue worth experiencing the space, the views, and the energy. Plus, these ticket sales are a key way VVF keeps the GoPro Mountain Games free and it’s a fun way to support!
- Chasing Rabbits NightLife: For the over 21 set, a night at this swanky arcade bar is a must. From the art to the neon lights, primo cocktails, to the throwback games, this place is totally unique. It normally has a hefty cover charge but during this June weekend, it’s free for Mountain Games goers.
- Take a Free Class: From learning to cast a fly fishing rod to learning to breathe for long-distance running, there are free workshops being offered the whole weekend. Yoga lovers will particularly enjoy the daily offerings at the Zen Zone.
- Mountain Mud Run: Jogging through the gorgeous valley, crawling through a muddy obstacle course, and whizzing down a massive water slide, this event is pure fun to do or watch.
- Catch a CoLab Session: These interactive talks and performances by leading athletes and creators were all awesome, and no doubt they will be in 2024. Make sure to catch at least 3 or 4 sessions for inspiring stories, new outdoor skills, and to meet some of the coolest creators.
- Trickline Finals: OMG, we were mesmerized by the acrobatics and finesse of these super slackliners (see video above). Do not miss the finals on Sunday.
Get Ready for the GoPro Mountain Games 2024
Between the beauty of the Rockies, the awesomeness of these extreme athletes, the sweet lineup of music, and good vibes, the GoPro Mountain Games is a must-see event. We always love Colorado in the summer, and timing it with GPMG makes a trip that much better. Arriving at Denver airport, there’s a train right to Union Station ($10) where you can catch the Bustang bus ($17) right into Vail. Once you’re in town, you’ll never need a car. Athlete registration starts February 2024 (there’s $130K in cash and prizes, just sayin’). Hotels book up fast so reserve a room early (we stayed at the ultra-chic resort The Hythe and would also recommend the iconic Sonnenalp to be in the true heart of town.) And be sure to stick around a few days, Vail is such a special place!
We’ll see you at the GoPro Mountain Games on June 6, 2024!
That looks like it was such an amazing experience. I must really feel great to finish that.
This is so freaking awesome! I’d love to experience something like this. It’s a challenge yet also fun! What a neat way to connect with like-minded individuals. thanks so much for sharing the information and photos.
Absolutely epic weekend! Conquering mountains and soaking in pure adrenaline.
These athletes were incredible, and we definitely felt that energy!
This GoPro festival sounds so cool! The games look like a blast and Vail is so darn pretty!
I have never been to Colorado but I have always wanted to go. This sounds like so much fun with plenty of things going on for all ages.
I have never heard of this, but it sounds like so much fun when the whole town gets taken over and everyone gets to experience it. The games themselves sound way outside of my comfort zone lol, but I’d love to watch x
Yea, it wasn’t until our friends Wade and Abby of Wrenegade told us about the event and we thought how did we miss this awesomeness all these years?! Know that we know….we are adding The Mountain Games to our annual summer calendar! Hope to see you there!
This looks like so much fun and I am going to have to Vail for this, plus I have always wanted to visit Colorado! Looks amazing and perfect for me and my husband 😉
Vail in of itself is incredible and then layer on the games and it will be such a fun weekend!
Wow I’ve never seen an event like this before! It looks like such a wild ride but so much fun and I love that its pet friendly too! 😀
It’s such a unique and special event! And we don’t even own a dog and we thought those events brought such a fun element and vibe to The Games.
This epic four-day festival creates a vibrant tapestry of athleticism, artistry, and community spirit. From gladiator-style kayaking to inspiring speakers on the CoLab creator stage, it’s a celebration of nature and adventure. The event’s deeper purpose of promoting responsible recreation and preserving the breathtaking landscapes makes me love it even more!
We love this mix too–a true representation of the best of mountain culture.
The GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado, seem like an incredible celebration of modern mountain culture. The inclusion of family-friendly and dog-friendly events adds to the inclusive and vibrant atmosphere.